The St. Alphonsus Parish Staff

Rev. Michael W. O'Connell began service as pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish on July 1, 2012. He came to St. Alphonsus from Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park, IL., where he served as pastor for fifteen years.

Father O'Connell was ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 1983. Previous assignments include St. Michael Parish, Orland Park (1983-1989) and the Church of St. Mary, Lake Forest (1989-1993). From 1993-1997, Father O'Connell engaged in doctoral studies in the Theology of Evangelization at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In addition to his Roman degrees, Father O'Connell holds a License in Sacred Theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein and the Masters of Divinity. He entered the seminary system of the Archdiocese of Chicago at the college level in 1975. He was born in Chicago and raised in the northwest suburbs.

Father O'Connell speaks fluent Italian and has studied French, Spanish, and German.

Fr. Andrew Wawrzyn was ordained in 2010 for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Prior to his ordination to the Archdiocese, he was a member of the Jesuit order for 13 years. He attended Marquette University for undergraduate studies, graduating in 1994. He obtained one degree in philosophy (MA) and two degrees in theology (MDiv and ThM) while a Jesuit and earned an STL degree in theology from Mundelein Seminary in 2011.

During the years he has been in ministry he has taught high school, directed retreats, done spiritual direction and served parishes

Catherine Crino began serving as the Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education at St. Alphonsus in 2000. Her responsibilities include oversight of the religious education and formation of adults and children, sacrament preparation, annulment ministry, coordination of outreach ministries including Peace and Justice and the Ministry of Care and responsibility for parish communications. She has worked at various parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago for over twenty five years, as well as having experience as a classroom teacher, in retirement home administration and employment counseling. In addition to parish ministry, she has also been a faculty member in various Archdiocesan institutes for ministry training and formation and in the STEP program at the University of Notre Dame.

She is originally from Tucson and lived in Los Angeles for some time. She has a BA in History from UCLA, as well as completing the Graduate School in Education there. She holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing advanced studies in spiritual direction.

Brian Bloye graduated with highest honors from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, where he studied organ performance and church music on full scholarship. He received the master of music degree cum laude from DePaul University in piano performance. Brian has been a church musician his entire life, serving Catholic parishes in three Michigan cities and in Chicago and suburbs. He was made the associate organist at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, MI at the age of sixteen, and played there every week for televised Mass for two years. He moved to Chicago in 1993 to be William Ferris’s associate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Brian was an adjunct faculty member in the keyboard department at Concordia University in River Forest, IL for four years. After serving parishes in the western suburbs, Brian became the music director at St. Alphonsus in 2002. During his tenure, he has developed an outstanding music program which includes two excellent and varied choral groups. Brian is also a tenor, and
sings with several Chicago choral groups including the choir of St. Peter-in-the-Loop, Richard Proulx’s Cathedral Singers, Bella Voce, and the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter. His compositions include over 30 psalm settings, two Masses, and many choral anthems.

Dr. Carole Stone has been appointed as the interim principal for the 2015-16 academic year. She grew up on the east side of Michigan, attended Eastern Michigan University and began her teaching career in kindergarten outside of London, England. She obtained a master's in Counseling from University of Missouri/St Louis and a doctorate in educational administration from St Louis University. She has 13 years of experience as an elementary principal in a suburban school district in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Jack Schuch joined the staff in 2009 as the Director of Operations with responsibility for parish finances and the physical plant and operations. He grew up on the Southside of Chicago, attended Niles College of Loyola University (Chicago), and holds a MBA from Rider University in Lawrenceville NJ.

Jenna Patitucci re-joined our staff in 2013 as Coordinator of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. Her responsibilities include oversight of the junior high confirmation program, as well as developing social, spiritual, and service activities for the teenagers of High School and Junior High age. Jenna had been on staff previously from 2010-2012 as Cathy Crino's assistant. She spent a year at a parish in Oak Park serving as youth minister. She holds a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Loyola University.

Connie Mottley joined our staff in 2012. As the parish minister for Marriage and Family Life, she works with couples who are preparing to marry, as well as families in the baptism preparation program. She is completing her Masters in Pastoral Studies at Loyola University. She and her husband, Terry, have been parishioners at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge for twenty years. They are now empty-nesters as their two children are in college.

Linda Herrera joined the staff in 2008 as the Administrative Assistant in the rectory office.

Mario Serrano joined the parish staff in April 2007 as a part-time assistant to the pastor. His general duties here run the gamut of administrative aspects including: operating the online credit card system for automatic contributions, operating and maintaining the parking lot machines, operating the security system, serving as part-time sacristan, formulating the calendar for all our organizations, sending out the end-of-year contribution statement letter for tax purposes, and any special projects that pastor directs. Mario grew up in Chicago, graduated from Lane Technical H.S and Triton College, and enjoys reading, playing baseball and watching old 40’s film noir.